Just One Word

It was late September and Julia still hadn’t made any friends. That didn’t surprise her.

School was in full swing at Southlake High, and almost everyone in the junior class had known each other since kindergarten. Julia, on the other hand, was a new kid, one of only three in the class, and the other two were boys. This was her sixth school in just over ten years, and she had become expert at keeping a low profile and minding her own business. Less trouble that way, she thought.

Her fifth period was English, a subject Julia liked and excelled in. That is, she excelled as much as she permitted herself. A B+ student didn’t stand out. An A student did.

Julia settled into her seat in the second row, next to the blackboard on the side wall. Mr. Edgerton banged a book on his desk, signaling everybody to get quiet and listen. After a few simple questions that the students readily answered, he asked, “What does reticent mean?” Silence reigned until one of the boys in the back row raised his hand.

“Yes, Gregg?”

“I can give you an example,” Gregg said.

Julia twisted around to look at the tall, athletic boy who was the target of her secret crush. It was clear that he would be King of the Homecoming Court, after he ran the football over the goal line to win the big game, of course. Julia knew it was hopeless, but she couldn’t help wishing he’d notice her and ask her out.

Gregg grinned and looked right at her. “Julia Sanders is reticent.”

Everybody laughed. Even Mr. Edgerton smiled. Julia’s face burned as she reached under her seat to pull out a notebook she didn’t need. The bell rang and the students filed out, the incident already forgotten. Julia left the room last, hoping they’d all be at the other end of the hall at their lockers when she walked out, bypassing a stop at her own locker and heading straight for the line of buses, looking for number three which, as always, was parked at the end of the line.

“Hey, Julia!” called a familiar voice. Carla, the other girl who worked part-time in the library instead of going to study hall, caught up with her. “He didn’t mean anything by it, you know.”

“No, of course not,” agreed Julia, knowing it was a lie. “I was just surprised he knew who I was.”

Carla nodded in sympathy and squeezed Julia’s hand before she ran over to her mother’s car. Julia looked after her for a minute, then climbed onto her bus and took a seat in the middle, next to the window. As usual, nobody sat next to her, and the bus pulled out.

“Reticent,” thought Julia. “I suppose I am. I wish I were an example of invisible. My life would be easier.” The rest of the way home, she let her mind wander, creating a story about the invisible girl she wished she could be.